New cab panic buttons are game changers putting riders in touch with police

Bangkok is rife with tales of taxi drivers that drive passengers crazy rather than safely to their destinations.

Everyone has a story about a taxi driver from hell. Whether they are molesting, raping, or threatening riders; masturbating, overcharging, or refusing passengers; being salty, racist, or enforcing weird rules in their cabs — their antics are a perennial hot topic of conversation.

Viral photo of a masturbating taxi driver.

Taxi companies and their governing bodies must have realized this because, as of now, approximately 2,000 — of a total 80,000 cabs operating in Bangkok — have been equipped with panic buttons in the back seats so passengers can report dastardly drivers as soon as they start acting up.